Magnetic Dish Sets

ABSTRACT

Magnetic dish sets are disclosed herein. Magnetic dish sets can include a dish body having a bottom area releasably attachable to a base. Magnetic dish sets can also include a dish having a body with means for releasably attaching a lid both on the top and the bottom of the body. The removable base and lid comprise magnets configured to create a retaining force with a mat having ferromagnetic inserts.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application claims priority to Provisional Application No.61/549,401 entitled Magnetic Dish Sets, and filed Oct. 20, 2011 and isexpressly incorporated by reference in its entirety.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The embodiments herein relate to a portable magnetic dish set thatincludes dishes that can be microwaved and are useful in preventingsmall children or people having motor control difficulty from knockingover their dishes while eating.

BACKGROUND

Some prior art attempts at retaining dishes in front of a small child,such as an infant or toddler, focus on the use of a suction cup on thebottom of the dish. However, many children are capable of releasing thesuction hold. This unintentional release often leads to large spills dueto the large difference in pressure between the air outside and insideof the suction cup. Suction cups are disadvantageous in that they relyon an “all or nothing” force; there is no gradual release or setting,the suction cup is either released or set.

Prior attempts at using magnets with dishware have also beendisadvantageous. For example, U.S. Pat. No. 6,179,377 to Harper focuseson the use of a high chair having a ferromagnetic core to be used withdishes having magnetic bases. This system is disadvantageous for atleast a few reasons. First, the system is not readily portable as it isa high chair. It cannot be placed into a diaper bag or suitcase, fortraveling. Additionally, the use of a high chair prevents its use withlarger toddlers, or adults having motor control difficulty, such asthose suffering from Parkinson's Disease. Another disadvantage of Harperis that the dishes are not configured to be placed in a microwave asthey have magnets inside of them.

Another example of magnetic dishware that can be improved upon is foundin U.S. Pat. No. 3,610,459 to Hanson. This patent teaches the use ofeither dishes having ferromagnetic metal or magnets within them, therebynot offering a suitable option for microwaving the dishes. Additionally,the tray may not be suitable for infants who require a high chair, nortoddlers who can readily move the tray and the supported dishes around atable. Also, Hanson's tray cannot be made smaller or collapsible, nor isportable such that it can be placed in a diaper bag.

Accordingly, objects of the present invention include providing amagnetic dish and mat set that can be used by children and adults alike,is portable, has a nonskid mat, and allows for the dishes to bemicrowavable.

Preferred embodiments relate to a magnetic dish set comprising: Amagnetic dish set comprising a dish body lacking magnets or metal andhaving a top area and bottom area, and defining an upper cavityconfigured to hold food or beverage; a removable base comprising one ormore magnets, and having topside means for releasably coupling to thebottom area of the dish body positioned above; and a mat having one ormore ferromagnetic inserts configured to create a retaining force withthe removable base's one or more magnets, when the removable base iscoupled to the bottom area of the dish body that is full of food and/orbeverage.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

It will be appreciated that the drawings are not necessarily to scale,with emphasis instead being placed on illustrating the various aspectsand features of embodiments of the invention, in which:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a preferred mat.

FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional view of a preferred dish with the lid ontop.

FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional view of a preferred dish with the lid on thebase.

FIG. 4 is a cross-sectional view of a preferred invertible combinationdish.

FIG. 5 is a perspective photograph showing various dishes and a mat.

FIG. 6 is a perspective view showing a dish with a removable base thatdoes not function as a lid.

FIG. 7 is a perspective underside view of the mat.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE ILLUSTRATED EMBODIMENTS

Embodiments of the present invention are described below. It is,however, expressly noted that the present invention is not limited tothese embodiments, but rather the intention is that modifications thatare apparent to the person skilled in the art and equivalents thereofare also included.

Preferred embodiments are directed to dishware sets that include a mathaving internal ferromagnetic inserts and accompanying dishware havingmagnet inserts within their removable lids. While the description belowwill primarily be directed to this particular embodiment, theferromagnetic inserts can alternatively be placed in the lids of thedishware and the magnets can be placed within the mat. Thus for allembodiments herein, magnets and ferromagnetic inserts can beinterchanged. FIG. 1 shows a preferred mat 10 that can be used with thedishware sets provided herein. The mat 10 includes a plurality ofinserts 22, 32, and 42 that are a ferromagnetic material such as iron,nickel, cobalt and their alloys, such as steel. The inserts 22, 32, and42 are preferably rectangular with rounded corners to prevent puncturingthe panel material 20, 30, and 40.

The mat 10 is preferably made of a non-skid material such as silicone,plastic, or rubber, to prevent slippage on a table. Further materialsthe mat can be made of include fabrics such as nylon and canvas, forexample. Additionally, the underside of the mat 10 can include 1 or moresuction cups to attach the mat 10 to an underlying surface, such as atable top. A preferred configuration of suction cups is one near eachcorner of the mat 10 and one central suction cup. FIG. 7 shows theunderside of a mat with suction cups 702. If the mat 10 is not entirelymade of a non-skid material, it is preferred that the underside is toprevent the mat 10 from sliding while positioned on top of the surfaceit is placed on. The mat material should not be thick enough that theyblock the magnetic attraction between the inserts 22, 32, and, 42 andthe magnets 106 in the lid 104, when the lid is used as a base (FIG. 3).According to one embodiment, the inserts 22, 32, and 42 are arrangedinto their desired configuration and a thermosetting material is moldedover them and allowed to dry to form the final mat 10.

According to further embodiments, the mat 10 is configured to be foldedor rolled up for traveling. FIG. 1 depicts a tri-fold mat 10 havingthree panels 20, 30, and 40 separated by two hinges 52 and 50, whereinat least one insert 22, 32, and 42 is placed in each panel 20, 30, and40. According to certain embodiments, the center panel 30 is wider thanthe two side panels 20 and 40, such that the side panels 20 and 40 bothcan fold over onto the top of the center panel 30 without overlappingeach other. Thus preferred mats have a center panel 30 that is at leastas twice as wide as the side panels 20 and 40. As one example, thecenter panel 30 can be about 7″ wide while the two side panels 20 and 40can be about 2-3″ wide, such that when folded up, the entire mat is 7″or less in width. Preferred lengths of the mats 10 can be about 8″ inlength or less. Preferred mats 10 in an unrolled or unfolded state areabout the size of an 8.5×11″ piece of standard paper, within 2″ in bothwidth and length. Preferred rolled up or folded mats are between6.5-10.5″ in length and folded up mats can be about 5-9″ in width.Alternatively the panels of the mat can all be equal size, orsubstantially so, and fold such that the first side panel 20 folds flaton top of the center panel 30 and the second side panel 40 folds flatagainst the underside of the center panel 30. The hinges 50 and 52 canbe made using any suitable means for a hinge including configuring themat 10 such that there is less material present between the panels 20,30, and 40, or attaching the panels separately 20, 30, and 40 withflexible material or hinges. Additional embodiments include a hinge freemat that can be rolled up into a cylindrical tube. For this embodiment,the inserts can be thin strips intermittently spaced within the mat toallow rolling. The mat can be made of a thin, material that allows ahigh degree of flexibility. The mat can also be a single fold mat,having a central hinge dividing two sections.

FIG. 2 depicts a preferred dish 100 comprising a body 102 and a lid 104.As used herein, dishware or dishes can include bowls, plates, cups, andthe like, depending on the particular size and shape desired. FIG. 5depicts a variety of dishes including a cup 300 and a lid 310 which canbe substituted for the dish body 102 and lid 104 as described herein.The dish body 102 preferably lacks magnets and metal and is madeentirely of a material or materials suitable for heating in a typicalmicrowave. The dish body 102 can include a divider 400 that separatesthe cavity defined by the body. This can be useful for separatingdifferent types of food from each other.

The dish body 102 preferably includes means for allowing releasableattachment of the lid 104 on the top area of the body 102, such as thetopside, and the bottom area of the body 102, such as the underside.This allows for the lid 104 to serve both as a traditional lid to allowsealing of the contained food/beverage and as a magnetic base whenattached to the bottom of the body 102. As one example, an elevated rim110 can extend upwards from the top of the body 102 while a lower rim108 can extend downwards from the bottom of the body 102. The rims 110and 108 can be inner rims positioned within the inside area defined bythe outer periphery of the body 102. Both the upper and lower rims 110and 108 are configured to releasably snap onto a corresponding groove120 on the lid 104. The rims 110 and 108 can have a periphery that isconcentric to the periphery of the body 102 of the dish 100. Preferredshapes of these peripheries non-exclusively include circles, squares,rectangles, and ovals. The means for releasably attaching the lid 104 tothe top and bottom of the body 102 are preferably vertically alignedwith one another. For example, the upper rim 110 and the lower rim 108can be vertically aligned with each other and be the same size.Alternatively the upper and lower rims and can be concentric and havedifferent diameters corresponding to two different sized concentricgrooves on the lid. Other means for releasably fastening the lid 104 tothe body 102 can include any suitable means known for releasablyattaching lids to containers. For example the body 102 can include upperand lower threads that correspond to threads on the lid such that thelid can be screwed to the top and bottom of the body 102. Threads can beon upper and lower rims or positioned on the outside or inside of thebody 102. If threads are on the inside of the body 102 there should becorresponding external threads on the lid, likewise if the threads onthe outside of the body 102 there should be corresponding internalthreads on the lid. Sideward extending upper and lower rims forreleasably snapping onto a corresponding side groove on the lid are alsoreadily contemplated.

According to preferred embodiments, the bottom means for releasablyfastening the lid are substantially planar and are configured to supportthe weight of the body 102 filled with food and/or beverage. Thisparticular embodiment is particularly advantageous in that it allows auser to insert the body 102 with food and/or beverage into a microwaveand be able to stably, stand the body 102 upright without the use of thelid 104.

Preferred lids 104 include a flat or substantially planar externalsurface 124, the surface facing away from the internal cavity defined bythe body 102. This is advantageous when the lid 104 is used as a base,as shown in FIG. 3 to allow stable support of the attached body 102,such as when used with the ferromagnetic mat 10. Other textured surfacesare readily contemplated for the lid, provided it can support the body102 along with its contained food when acting as a base. For thisembodiment, the lid 104 is removed from the upper means for releasableattachment (e.g. upper rim 110), turned upside down and attached to thebottom means for releasable attachment (e.g., lower rim 108). The lid104 includes magnets 106, and when used as a base, they form asufficient attraction with the ferromagnetic inserts 22, 32, and 42 ofthe mat 10 such that the dish 100 is retained on the mat 10 and canwithstand minor inadvertent force such as a human hand brushing againstit, and avoid tipping over. Any suitable magnets 106 can be used withthe teachings herein, non-exclusively include neodymium magnets. A fewlarge magnets or multiple small magnets can be used, such that themagnets are strong enough and close enough to the external face 124 tomaintain a sufficient magnetic hold on the mat 10. Magnets 106 can beinserted into or coupled to the lid 104 using any suitable method. Themagnets 106 are preferably non-releasably attached to the lid 104, suchthat they are not-removable without breaking the lid 104. As one examplethe lid 104 can be a thermoplastic and molded over the magnets 106.According to alternative embodiments, the magnets 106 can be releasablycoupled to the lid 104 such that they can be removed and re-insertedinto the lid 104, in an exposed or enclosed configuration. Morespecifically, releasably coupling the magnets 106 can be done byinserting them into pockets/sheaths within the lid 104 or securing themwithin lipped recesses within the lid, whether in the external surface124 or the inner surface. It is preferred under these embodiments thatthe external surface 124 of the lid remains planar, or substantially so,to ensure sufficient attraction to the mat 10. These embodiments can beadvantageous as it can allow for the lids 104 to be microwaved once themagnets 106 are removed, however a user must remember to remove themagnets 106, and may lose them. A user would afterwards re-insert themagnets 106 into the lid 104 to couple to the mat 10 and the dish 100.For embodiments wherein the magnets 106 are releasably coupled to thelid 104 it is preferred to have writing on the lid 104 warning the userto remove the magnets 106 before microwaving. If the magnets arenon-releasably coupled to the lid 104 it is preferred to include writingon the lid 104 warning the user not to microwave at all. It is alsocontemplated to utilize transparent lids that allow a user to see themagnets. Dish sets herein can additionally include the lids describedherein in addition to microwavable lids that do not have magnets. Thesetwo types of lids can be labeled or otherwise indicated accordingly.According to certain embodiments, it is preferred that the magnets 106are entirely encased within the lid 104 to allow the lid 104 to beplaced in a dishwashing machine without damaging the magnets. Accordingto other embodiments, the magnets can be exposed to enhance theretention force with the ferromagnetic inserts. According to preferredembodiments, the lid 104, absent the magnets, is made of athermoplastic, rubber, or the same material as the body 102 of the dish100. The lid 104 can advantageously include an outer lip 107 to help auser to remove the lid 104 from the body 102.

According to non-preferred embodiments, the dish bodies herein caninclude means for releasably attaching a removable magnetic base,wherein said base is not configured to also be utilized as a lid. Theremovable base can be releasably attached to the dish bodies the same asthe lid 104, when acting as a base, such as by snapping or screwing onto threads on the dish body. The magnets can be inserted or coupled intothe base using any suitable means such as having them exposed, forexample. Thus, the removable base functions identically to a lid 104 andcan include each feature of the embodiments above directed to lids 104,with the exception of not being able to attach to the top area of thedish body 102. FIG. 6 shows a removable base 700 that is not configuredto attach to the top of the dish body 102. The removable base canalternatively include suction cups on its upper surface to releasablycouple to the lower area of the dish body 102. When a user desires towash the dish body, a removable base having exposed magnets can beremoved.

FIG. 4 depicts an invertible combination dish 200. According to thisparticular embodiment, two different bodies or containers are separatedby a barrier 122. More specifically, a top body 102 is separated fromthe lower body 103 by the partition 122. The top body 102 and/or thelower body 103 can be a bowl or plate. While the upper and lowercavities 116 and 114 can have the same or similar shapes and volumes, inFIG. 4, the top body 102 defines a deeper cavity 116 preferably used asa bowl, while the lower body 103 defines a shallower cavity 114preferably used as a plate. This embodiment is very similar to the dish100 provided in FIGS. 2 and 3 with the exception of the partition 122and the lower cavity 114 defined by the lower body 103. Accordingly,description directed to the dish 100 above is readily applicable to theinvertible combination dish 200 where applicable. Similar to FIGS. 2 and3, the lower body 103 includes bottom means for releasably attaching tothe lid 104. One or more lids 104 can be used with this embodiment. Forexample, a lid 104 can be placed on the lower means for releasablyattachment (e.g., lower rim 108) and another lid 104 can be placed onthe upper means for releasable attachment (e.g., upper rim 110) at thesame time. This can allow a user to store food in both separatedcavities 116 and 114 at the same time. However, it is preferred that theinvertible dish 200 can be supported by its lower means for releasableattachment (e.g., lower rim 108) without the use of the lid 104 to allowfor stable upright position during microwave heating. The body of theinvertible dish 200 (comprising all elements with the exception of thelid 104) preferably lacks magnets and metal and is made entirely of amaterial or materials suitable for heating in a typical microwave.

The invention may be embodied in other specific forms besides and beyondthose described herein. The foregoing embodiments are therefore to beconsidered in all respects illustrative rather than limiting, and thescope of the invention is defined and limited only by the appendedclaims and their equivalents, rather than by the foregoing description.

What is claimed is:
 1. A magnetic dish set comprising: a dish bodylacking magnets or metal and having a top area and bottom area, anddefining an upper cavity configured to hold food or beverage; aremovable base comprising one or more magnets, and having topside meansfor releasably coupling to the bottom area of the dish body positionedabove; and a mat having one or more ferromagnetic inserts configured tocreate a retaining force with the removable base's one or more magnets,when the removable base is coupled to the bottom area of the dish bodythat is full of food and/or beverage.
 2. The magnetic dish set of claim1, wherein the removable base is also a lid having means for releasablycoupling to and covering the top area of the dish body.
 3. The magneticdish set of claim 2, wherein the magnets are releasably coupled to thelid.
 4. The magnetic dish set of claim 2, wherein the magnets arenon-releasably coupled to the lid.
 5. The magnetic dish set of claim 4,wherein the magnets are molded into the lid and are not exposed, suchthat the lid can be placed in a dishwasher.
 6. The magnetic dish set ofclaim 2, wherein the mat includes one or more hinges that allow the matto be folded up.
 7. The magnetic dish set of claim 2, wherein the matcan be rolled up and includes thin bendable ferromagnetic inserts. 8.The magnetic dish set of claim 2, wherein the dish body furthercomprises an inverted lower cavity positioned in the bottom area of thedish body separated from the upper cavity by a barrier and that can beused by inverting the dish body such that the upper cavity is placedupside down.
 9. The magnetic dish set of claim 2, wherein the dish bodyis made of materials that are microwave suitable.
 10. The magnetic dishset of claim 1, wherein the removable base's means for releasablycoupling to the bottom area of the dish body comprise a lip positionedaround the bottom area of the dish body configured to releasably snapinto a groove positioned around the removable base.
 11. The magneticdish set of claim 2, wherein the lid's means for releasably coupling tothe bottom area of the dish body comprise a lip positioned around thebottom area of the dish body configured to releasably snap into a groovepositioned around the lid, and the lid's means for releasably couplingto the top area of the dish body comprise a lip positioned around thetop area of the dish body configured to releasably snap into the groovepositioned around the lid.
 12. The magnetic dish set of claim 1, whereinthe removable base's means for releasably coupling to the bottom area ofthe dish body comprise one or more suction cups positioned on thetopside of the removable base.
 13. The magnetic dish set of claim 1,wherein the removable base's means for releasably coupling to the bottomarea of the dish body comprise a first set of threads positioned aroundthe bottom area of the dish body configured to screw into acomplementary second set of threads positioned around the removablebase.
 14. A magnetic dish set comprising: a dish body lacking magnets ormetal and having a top area and bottom area, and defining an uppercavity configured to hold food or beverage; a removable base comprisingone or more ferromagnetic inserts, and having means for releasablycoupling to the bottom area of the dish body positioned above; and a mathaving one or more magnet inserts configured to create a retaining forcewith the removable base's one or more ferromagnetic inserts, when theremovable base is coupled to the bottom area of the dish body that isfull of food and/or beverage.
 15. The magnetic dish set of claim 14,wherein the removable base is also a lid that can releasably couple tothe top area of the dish body.
 16. The magnetic dish set of claim 15,wherein the ferromagnetic inserts are molded into the lid and are notexposed, such that the lid can be placed in a dishwasher.
 17. Themagnetic dish set of claim 15, wherein the dish body further comprisesan inverted lower cavity positioned in the bottom area of the dish bodyseparated from the upper cavity by a barrier and that can be used byinverting the dish body such that the upper cavity is placed upsidedown.
 18. The magnetic dish set of claim 15, wherein the dish body ismade of materials that are microwave suitable.
 19. The magnetic dish setof claim 15, wherein the lid's means for releasably coupling to thebottom area of the dish body comprise a lip positioned around the bottomarea of the dish body configured to releasably snap into a groovepositioned around the lid, and the lid's means for releasably couplingto the top area of the dish body comprise a lip positioned around thetop area of the dish body configured to releasably snap into the groovepositioned around the lid.
 20. The magnetic dish set of claim 14,wherein the removable base's means for releasably coupling to the bottomarea of the dish body comprise one or more suction cups positioned onthe topside of the removable base.